Lined cartons



y 1965 K. T. BUTTERY 3,195,796

1.11m]: CARTONS Filed Nov. '15. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l INVENTOR.

Kennel/1 TBu/fery @waM ATTORNEY y 1965 K. T. BUTTERY 3,195,796

LINED CARTONS Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 7 Kenn e//7 ZZBu/fery United States Patent 3,195,796 LINED CARTGNS (enneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to KVP Sutherland Paper (Iompany, Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 237,858 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-l4 This invention relates to improvements in cartons. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a unitary box-like form-retaining carton including a fiberboard outer ply and an inner ply of polyolefin type of matreial which is effectively sealed and at the same time quickly opened without the use of implements.

Second, to provide a carton having these structural features which is fractured in predetermined zones when opened from sealed state.

Third, to provide a carton having these advantages which provides a container for moist food products and the like and is simple and economical in structure.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a carton embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged lon itudinal section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

PEG. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on a line corresponding to line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 44 of FIG. 1 illustrating further structural details.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carton after it has been opened.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the blank of the carton of my invention.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated which is adapted for use as a food container comprises an outer ply designated generally by the numeral 1 formed as an integral blank from form-retaining fiberboard cut and scored to provide a bottom 2, rear wall 3, front wall 4 and end walls 5. The front and rear walls are provided with end flaps 6 which are retainingly engaged with the angular slits '7 in the end walls, these flaps 6 having tongue portions 8 disposed through the slits.

The cover unit comprises a top member 9 hingedly connected to the back wall 3 and having end walls 10 and a front wall 11. These several body and cover members are connected by folding scores conventionally indicated at 12. An inner ply 13 of polyolefin material such as polyethylene and polypropylene is bondingly secured throughout to and becomes an integral or unitary part with the outer fiberboard body member.

It should be understood that this inner ply of polyolefin material is very thin and that it is not practical to illustrate these body parts in their actual proportional thickness. lowever, the inner ply is bonded to the outer ply throughout so that it is in effect unitary therewith.

In the set up carton, the cover end members 10 are adhesively secured at 14 to the body member end walls 5 and the cover front member 11 is adhesively secured to the body member front wall preferably by spaced adhesive l5 and the cover front wall 11 is, in the embodiment illustrated, provided with notch-like finger opening 16 disposed in its bottom or outer edge and positioned centrally thereof.

The cover top has slits 17 disposed adjacent but in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the junctures of the cover top and its end members and, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, extending through the inner 3,1953% Patented July 20, 1965 ply and into but not through the outer ply. The cover member has slits 1% facilitating severing at the junctures of the top and cover end members.

in the embodiment illustrated the front wall 4 is pro vided with a flap 19 extending the full length thereof and hingedly connected thereto to be positioned in an inwardly projecting relation as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

With the parts thus arranged, the body portion of the carton is erected and the contents to be packaged placed therein, the cover closed and secured in its closed position by securing the end members thereof to the end walls of the body portion and the cover front member secured to the body member front wall desirably by spaced adhesive 15. The inner ply desirably has cuts 20 therein surrounding the spots of adhesive 15. This facilitates the opening of the carton.

It will be understood that the inner ply of polyolefin material does not fracture along predetermined lines when subject to tea-ring or rupturing stresses. By forming the cuts or slits 1'7 therethrough, the cover may be readily opened and the portion of the top of the cover between the slits and the scores 17 is split or fractured as shown at 21 in FIG. 5; that is, the outer ply between the slits and the junctures of the cover and its end members is desirably peelingly fractured as is illustrated. However, it should be borne in mind that due to variations in fiberboard stock, in practice some variations occur in the fracturing zone between the slits l7 and the ends of the top portion of the cover.

I have illustrated described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various structural adaptations which may be desirable for particular cartons varyingly dimensioned to be adapted for varying uses as it is believed the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A car-ton comprising an outer ply formed of an integral blank of fiberboard cut and scored to provide a body unit including a bottom, rear, front and end walls, the front and rear walls having corner flaps at their ends which are disposed in overlapping engagement with the end walls and having tongue portions retainingly engaged with slits provided therefor in the end walls, and a cover unit including a top hingedly connected at its rear edge to the upper edge of the body member rear Wall and front and end members embracing portions of the front and rear walls of the body unit when the cover is in closed position, there being outer partially severing slits at the juncture of the top and its said end members, and an inner ply of nonfibrous polyolefin-like material extending throughout and unitarily bonded throughout to the inner side of said body and cover units and the hinging portion thereof, the end members of the cover when the carton is in its closed position overlapping and being retainingly bonded to said body unit end walls and in overlapping relation to said flaps and in closure relation to slits in said end walls, the front cover member overlapping and being releasably bonded to the outer side of the front wall, said cover top having continuous slits in the inner side thereof disposed in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the juncture of said cover and its said end P members and extending through said inner ply and into but not through said outer ply so that upon disengagement of the front cover member from the front wall and swinging it on its hinge connection to the rear wall the outer ply of the portion of the cover between said slits and the juncture of said cover and its end members are pee-lingly fractured, the remaining portions between the slits and end walls constituting flap-like closure units which are overlapped by said cover top when it is in reclosed position. a a a 2. A carton comprisingan outer ply formed of an integral blank of fiberboard cut and scored to provide a body unit including a bottom, rear, front and end walls, the front and rear walls having corner flaps at their ends which are, disposed in overlapping engagementwit-h the end Walls and having tongue portions retaining ly engaged with slits provided therefor in theend walls, a cover unit including a top hingedly connected at its rear edge to the upper edge of the body member rear wall and front and end members embracing portions of the front and rear walls of the body unit when thecoveris in closed position, there being outer partially severing slits at the juncture of the top and itssaid end members, and an inner ply of nonfibrous polyolefin-like material extending throughout and unitarily bonded throughout to the inner sides of said body and cover units and the hinging portion thereof, the end members of the cover whenthe carton is in its initially closed position overlapping and being retainingly bonded to said body unit'end walls and in over-lapping relation to said flaps and in closure relation to slits in said end walls, the front -cover member overlapping and being releasably bonded to the outer side of the front wall, said cover top having slits in the inner side thereof disposed in inwardly spaced relation to the juncture of said cover and its said end members and extending through said innerply but not through said outer ply so that upon disengagement of the front cover member from the front wall and swinging it on its hinge connection to the rear wall the outer ply of the portions throughout and unitarily bonded-throughout to the inner side of said outer body ply and constituting a liner for said body member and said cover, the end members of the cover when the carton is in its initially closed position overlapping and being retainingly bonded to the outer sides of the body member end walls, the front cover member overlapping and being releasably bonded to the outer side of the front wall, said cover top having slits in the inner side thereof disposed in inward-ly'spaced relation to the juncture of said cover and its said end members and extending through said inner ply so that upon disengagement of the front cover member from the front wall and swinging iton its hinge connection to the rear wall the portions of the router ply of the cover between. said slits andcthe juncture of said cover and its end members are peelingly fractured.

5. .A carton comprising an outer ply formed of an integral blank of fiberboard 'cut' and scored to provide a body unit including a bottom, rear, front and end walls, the front and rear walls having corner flaps at their ends overlapping and supportingly connected to said end Walls, and a of the cover between said slits and the juncture of said;-

cover and its end members are fracturable.

3. A carton comprising an outer ply formed of an integral blank of fiberboard cut and scored to provide a body unit including a bottom, rear, front and end walls and a cover unit including a top hingedly connected at cover unit including a top hingedlyconnected at its rear edge to the upper. edge of the body member rear wall and front and end members of a width corresponding to and embracing the front and rear walls of the body unit when the cover is in closed position, there being outer partially severing slits betweenthe top and its end members, and an inner ply of nonfibrous moisture resistant material extending throughout and unitarily bonded throughout to the inner side of said body and cover units and the hinging portion thereof, the end members of the cover when the carton is in its initially closed sealed position overlapping :and being retainingly secured to said body .unit end walls and inoverlapping relationto said fiaps and in closure relation to slits in said end walls, the front cover member overlapping and being detachably secured to the outer side of the front wall, said cover top having continuous slits in its rear edge to the upper edge of the body member rear 7 wall and front and end members disposed a'ngu'larly relative to the top and embracing portions of'the front and rear walls of the body member when the cover is in 'closed'po'sition, there being outer partially severing slits at the juncture of the "top and its'said end members, and

an inner film-like ply of .polyole'fin-like material extending throughout and unitarily bonded throughout to the inner side of said outer body ply and constituting a liner for said body member and said cover, the end members of the cover when the carton is in its initially closed position overlapping and being retainingly bonded to the outer sides of the bodymember end walls, thefront cover member overlapping and being releasably bonded to the outer side of theifront wall, said cover top having continuous slits in the inner .sidethereof disposed in inwardly' spaced parallel relation to the juncture of said cover'and its said end members and extending through said inner ply and into but not through saidcouter ply so that ,upon

disengagement of the vfront cover member from the front wall and swinging it on its hinge connectionto the rear wall the portions of the outer pl of the cover between said slits and the juncture of said'cover andits end members are peelingly fractured, the remaining portions between the slitsand end walls constituting flap-like closure units which are overlapped by said cover top when it is in reclosed position.

4. A carton comprising an outer ply formed of an integral blank of fiberboard cut and scored to provide a body unitincluding a bottom, rear, front and end walls and a cover unit including a top hingedly connectedcat its rear edge to the upper edge of the body member rear wall and front and endimembers disposed angularly relative to the topand embracing portions of the front and rear wallsxof'the body member when'the cover is in closed position, there being outerpartially severing slits at the juncture of the top and its saidend members, and w an inner film-like ply of polyolefin-like:materialextending the inner side thereof disposed in inwardly spaced parallel relation to the juncture of said cover and its said end members and extending through said inner ply and into but not through said outer ply so that upon disengagement of the front cover member from the front Wall and swingingthe .cover on its hinge connection to the rear wall the outer .ply of the cover at the outer side of said slits is peeling fractured, the remaining portions between the slits and end walls constituting flap-like closure units which are overlapped by said cover top when it is in reclosed position.

6. A carton comprising an outer ply formed of an integral blank of fiberboard cut and scored to provide a body unit including a bottom, rear, front and end walls, and a ,cover' unit including a top hingedly connected at its rear edge to the upper edge of the body member rear'wall and front and'end members embracing the front and rear walls of'the body unit .when the cover is in closed position,

there being outer partially severing slits between the top and its end members, and an inner ply of nonfibrous moisture resistant material bonded throughout .to the inner side of said body and cover units, thee-end members of the cover when the'carton is in its initially closed sealed position overlapping and being retainingly' secured to said body unit end walls, the front'cover member overlappingand being detachably secured to theouter side of the front wall, said cover t-op having slits in the inner side thereof disposed in inwardly. spaced relation to the juncture of said-cover and its said end members and extending through said inner ply so that upon disengagement of the front cover member from'the front wall andswinging the cover on its hinge connection to the rear wall the outer ply of the cover at the outer side of said slits is peelingly fractured. a

7. ,A carton comprising a unitary body member of peelingly fr-acturable fibrous material and including a bottom, rear, front and end walls and corner flaps providing e g o nections for the end and front and-rear walls,

a cover unit hingedly connected to the bottom member rear wall and including front and end members of a vertical width corresponding to and embracing the front and rear walls of the body member when the cover is in closed position, there being outer partially severing slits between the cover top and its end members, and an inner ply of nonfibrous moisture-proof material disposed on the inner side of and unitarily bonded throughout the inner side of said body and cover units, the end members of the cover when the carton is in initially closed and sealed position overlapping and being retainingly secured to the end walls of the body member, the front cover member being releasably disposed on the outer side of the front wall, said cover top having slits in the inner side thereof disposed in inwardly spaced relation to the juncture of the cover and its said end members and extending through said inner ply but not through said outer ply so that when said cover is swung upwardly on its hinge from its initially closed position the outer ply of the cover at the outer sides of said slits is peelingly fractured with portions of the inner ply at the outer side of said slits and portions of said outer ply adhered thereto constitute inwardly projecting closure flaps for said cover top when it is adjusted to reclosed position.

8. A carton comprising a unitary body member of peelingly fracturable fibrous material and including a bottom, rear, front and end walls and cornerflaps providing sealing connections for the end and front and rear walls, a cover unit hingedly connected to the bottom member rear wall and including front and end members embracing the front and rear walls of the body member when the cover is in closed position, there being outer partially severing slits between the cover top and its end members, and an inner ply of nonfibrous moistureproof material disposed on the inner side of and unitarily bonded throughout the inner side of said body and cover units, the end members of the cover when the carton is in initially closed and sealed position overlapping and being retainingly secured to the end walls of the body member, the front cover member being releasably disposed on the outer side of the front wall, said cover top having slits in the inner side thereof disposed in inwardly spaced relation to the juncture of the cover and its said end members and extending through said inner ply but not through said outer ply so that when said cover is swung upwardly on its hinge from its initially closed position the outer ply of the cover at the outer sides of said slits is fractured.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,649 12/4'1 Marshall 229-51 2,430,610 11/47 Guyer 229-14 2,503,798 4/50 Buttery 2293 6 2,651,450 9/53 Ellsworth 229-3 3 2,983,420 5/61 Rellstab 229-36 3,050,229 8/62 Neif 229-51 3,056,665 10/ 62 Linda et al. 22951 3,067,923 12/62 Thiets 22962 3,085,734 4/63 Kauifeld 2293 .5

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

1. A CARTON COMPRISING AN OUTER PLY FORMED OF AN INTEGRAL BLANK OF FIBERBOARD CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE A BODY UNIT INCLUDING A BOTTOM, REAR, FRONT AND END WALLS, THE FRONT AND REAR WALLS HAVING CORNER FLAPS AT THEIR ENDS WHICH ARE DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE END WALLS AND HAVING TONGUE PORTIONS RETAININGLY ENGAGED WITH SLITS PROVIDED THEREFOR IN THE END WALLS, AND A COVER UNIT INCLUDING A TOP HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT ITS REAR EDGE TO THE UPPER EDGE OF THE BODY MEMBER REAR WALL AND FRONT AND END MEMBERS EMBRACING PORTIONS OF THE FRONT AND REAR WALLS OF THE BODY UNIT WHEN THE COVER IS IN CLOSED POSITION, THERE BEING OUTER PARTIALLY SEVERING SLITS AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE TOP AND ITS SAID END MEMBERS, AND AN INNER PLY OF NONFIBROUS POLYOLEFIN-LIKE MATERIAL EXTENDING THROUGHOUT AND UNITARILY BONDED THROUGHOUT TO THE INNER SIDE OF SAID BODY AND COVER UNITS AND THE HINGING PORTION THEREOF, THE END MEMBERS OF THE COVER WHEN THE CARTON IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION OVERLAPPING AND BEING RETAININGLY BONDED TO SAID BODY UNIT END WALLS AND IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO SAID FLAPS AND IN CLOSURE RELATION TO SLITS IN SAID END WALLS, THE FRONT COVER MEMBER OVERLAPPING AND BEING RELEASABLY BONDED TO THE OUTER SIDE OF THE FRONT WALL, SAID COVER TOP HAVING CONTINUOUS SLITS IN THE INNER SIDE THEREOF DISPOSED IN INWARDLY SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO THE JUNCTURE OF SAID COVER AND ITS SAID END MEMBERS AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID INNER PLY AND INTO BUT NOT THROUGH SAID OUTER PLY SO THAT UPON DISENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT COVER MEMBER FROM THE FRONT WALL AND SWINGING IT ON ITS HINGE CONNECTION TO THE REAR WALL THE OUTER PLY OF THE PORTION OF THE COVER BETWEEN SAID SLITS AND THE JUNCTURE OF SAID COVER AND ITS END MEMBERS ARE PEELINGLY FRACTURED, THE REMAINING PORTIONS BETWEEN THE SLITS AND END WALLS CONSTITUTING FLAP-LIKE CLOSURE UNITS WHICH ARE OVERLAPPED BY SAID COVER TOP WHEN IT IS IN RECLOSED POSITION. 